Will paced the length of Karen's hotel bedroom as she sat, still as a statue, on the chaise lounge. Neither of them spoke. The vintage grandfather clock in the corner of the room ticked out each passing second. Through the open balcony door, the sound of birds chirping and cars passing was audible. The lilting, sadly clownish sound of an accordion on the street below floated into the room, swirling around their tensed bodies.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Karen could've thrown her watch through the glass face of that damned clock. She wished Will would stop pacing and sit down, next to her. She wished he would hold her hand.

Will looked down at Karen as he crossed behind her, towards the bed. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Depending on what that little stick, sitting on a soap dish in the bathroom, said, his entire life could completely change. So would Karen's. And Stan's. And Grace's and Jack's. It dawned on him just how many people this hypothetical baby would affect. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea. He crossed back to Karen.

"Karen?" he said her name softly and her head snapped up to look at him. He sat next to her. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" she asked, her eyes questioning. Will sighed.

"I…I um…" Will began. He looked at his hands. "I ripped that condom."

Karen frowned, not as confused as she pretended to be.

"Will, what are you talking -"

"The condom didn't break," he explained. His voice was louder now and he looked directly at her. The annoyance in his demeanor was not directed towards Karen, but rather, himself. "I ripped it because I wanted you to get pregnant."

Karen's mouth fell open. She took her face in her hands and shook her head as he tried to embrace her.

"No," she told him, pushing his arms away and standing from the couch.

"Karen, I'm sorry," he told her. She strode towards the bathroom, stopping when she reached the doorway to turn sharply and address him.

"Oh, you're 'sorry'?" Karen scoffed. Her voice was raised. "I-I-I can't believe you what do something that stupid!"

"Yes, I am sorry!" Will yelled, now standing. "But I love you. I want a baby! YOU want a baby! I just thought this would be a good thing…for all of us." Karen stared back at him. Her posture softened. "I had to go a whole year without you, Karen. A WHOLE YEAR. I don't want to be without you ever again. If we had a baby…I wouldn't have to be."

Karen shook her head slowly and sighed.

"I love you too - I do. And yes, Will, I've dreamt about having a family with you. Yes, I've fantasized about a child that was half me and half you and I've even thought about names." She swallowed back tears. "But…do you have any idea how much this will change things? I mean everything will be completely different, Will."

"I know," he whispered.

"This would be like…like a nuclear war. And in the end you and me would be the only ones left standing. We would lose EVERYONE."

"I know that, that's why I had to tell you what I had done."

"Well it's too late now!" Karen shrilled. She put a hand on her forehead and their roles were reversed as she began pacing back and forth in front of the door and Will sat in front of her on the bed. "I thought…" Karen began. She swallowed. "I thought this was an accident. I thought that this…that this was the universe's way of making things work out - that this was all beyond our control and things might finally happen. But now…now that I know you orchestrated this…" her thoughts trailed off.

Will's heart ached. He couldn't believe he had been so selfish. But he didn't say anything. He didn't know what to.

Karen went into the bathroom and closed the door. Will didn't move from the bed. Through the door he heard her stifle a sob. Will stood from the bed and just as he was about to go into the bathroom, Karen emerged from it. As soon as she flung the door open, she threw the pregnancy test at him. He just barely caught it as she stormed past him. He watched her grab his pack of cigarettes off of the table next to the balcony door and slam it shut as she stepped out into the fresh air.

Only then did he look down at the plastic stick in his hands.

Pregnant

Will read and reread the word. His breathing was heavy and his facial muscles couldn't decide if they wanted to frown or smile. He set the stick down on the bed and rushed out to balcony.

Karen had her back to him and was leaned against the wrought iron railing, looking down over the street below her. A cigarette was pinched between her lips. Will wrapped an arm around her from behind, and used his other hand to pull the cigarette from her lips and throw it over the side of the balcony. Karen didn't resist him, but didn't respond either.

"I'm sorry," Will whispered into her ear. She heard the smile in his voice. "Are you still mad?" He wrapped his other hand around her body now, and let his hands come to rest on her lower stomach, where their baby was growing. Karen closed her eyes and leaned her head back to rest it on his shoulder.

"No."

He kissed her hair.

"Then I'm not sorry."

She gave one small laugh and shook her head.

"What the hell am I gonna do?" Karen turned herself in Will's arms to face him, and buried her face in his chest. Will shrugged.

"What do you want to do?"

Karen bit her lip as she thought for a second. There was really only one thing she wanted. She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"I'm going to leave Stan."

Will smiled and hugged her again, picking her up off the ground and twirling her in a circle.

"I've been waiting so long to hear you say that!"

She kissed him.

"We're having a baby, Wilma."

He shook his head in disbelief as he picked her up again and pushed the balcony door open.

"I know. It's amazing isn't it?" he asked as he laid her down on the bed. She licked her lips and looked up into his eyes.

"Incredible."